Fire Station 6
Fire Station 6 Lot: 15,304 SF Building: 11,200 SF Seattle, WA Civic: Public Safety
Fire Station 6 Fire Station 6 is a neighborhood station located at the intersection of two significant arterial streets in Seattle’s Central District neighborhood. Re-located from a beloved, but out-of-date, historic building three blocks to the west, the new station design provides up-to-date facilities, improves firefighter response time, and creates safer vehicle circulation while establishing a strong civic presence at a busy - and until now overlooked - intersection. The apparatus bay and its support spaces are the driver of the site strategy. The highly transparent double height volume of the apparatus bay is placed near the public corner of the site. This meets the transparency requirements of the NC240 zoning, puts the fire trucks on display and advertises its presence to the surrounding community. The corner location of the apparatus bay better accommodates the many dimensional constraints governing the building’s operation, improves sightlines to the intersection during calls, and allows drive-through access - thus eliminating the safety concerns of a back-in station. Two masonry-clad volumes at either side of the apparatus bay house support and living spaces. A central, sky-lit scissor stair organizes the two-story living spaces, providing efficient access to the apparatus bay from sleeping quarters and connecting the Station Office and Beanery (kitchen/dining area)—an important social component for the firefighters— while also separating active spaces from quieter areas.
The Station Office’s location at street level adjacent to the apparatus bay offers visibility in multiple directions and creates a readily identifiable front door for the office, which is staffed 24/7. A small plaza at the northeast corner of the site affords space for pedestrians to safely observe the inner workings of the apparatus bay, which has proved to be especially popular for the local preschool population. The stained glass art above the apparatus bay doors by Seattle artist Steve Gardner references Art-Deco symbols from the original station. Sustainability strategies include a ground source heat pump system, a substantial vegetated roof, stormwater reclamation system for irrigation, permeable paving, and energy efficient HVAC and envelope detailing. The high performance facility incorporates multiple forms of advanced communications technologies and has redundant mechanical and electrical systems components to achieve essential facility standards. Fire Station 6 is a LEED Gold building.
Au to S er vice
Si n g l e Fam ily - Zoned L-1
Child c are
Ever yb o dy Gym
4 Un it Apt
The S eattle M ediu m
Fo o d M ar t
S eat t l e G i rl s S cho o l Chu rc h o f G o d Evang elic al Center
Neighborhood Context: The fire station’s transparency engages pedestrian activity at the intersection. Holding the corner, integrating artwork , and providing “eyes on the street” are design strategies that enhance the vibrant community.
Connectivity: The glazed apparatus bay and the station office windows engage the neighborhood.
SOUTH JACKSON STREET
Bunk rooms located away from traffic noise Scissor stair allows for quick access to the apparatus bay from all points on the second story Physical Training Room, Beanery, and Station Office are located with views to the exterior for maximum “eyes on the street” Drive through site design allows for optimal operational efficiency
Circulation Diagram + Site Plan: Purposeful and expressive circulation.
STAIR 2
Central scissor stair provides direct connections between stories. Simple materials are expressed with care throughout the station.
SOUTH JACKSON STREET
6
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WAY
Plaza
Ladder/Engine Storage
R ec ycle
R e ar Apro n
Apparatus B ay
6 Major Disaster Supply
Station O f f ice
Main Entry
O ffi cer Pa rk i n g
Below Grade Generator
B unker G ear O f f ice r Q u a r te r s STAIR 2
Ground Floor Plan: prioritize active uses towards the corner.
0
4
8
16
Open to Apparatus Bay Below
BBQ Deck
B eaner y
Day Ro om
Phys ic a l Tra ining
Locker Alcoves
Bu nk Ro oms
Upper Floor Plan: daily life of a firefighter.
0
4
8
16
Physical training room overlooks apparatus bay and main entry.
Beanery [kitchen] opens to south-facing deck.
quiet
B u n ks
active
Lo c ker s
Day R o o m Apparat u s B ay
O ffi ce rs’ Q u a r te r s
Apparatus Supp o r t
Ap p a ratu s Su p p or t Ja cks on Stre e t
Alley
Zoning Diagram Building Section: North/South
0
4
8
16
The apparatus [trucks] have broad sightlines when leaving the station.
D ayl i t Ci rc u l ati o n Co re
Daylighting with Overhangs
Energy-Efficient Envelope
Rainwater Collection
B eaner y P hys i c al Trai n i n g
Operable Windows for Passive Ventilation
BBQ De ck
St at i on O f f i ce
Permeable Paving at Parking R ai nwater Ci ster n
Re a r Ap ron
M LK J r. Way Ground Source Heat Pump
Sustainability Diagram Building Section: East/West
0
4
8
16
Transparency and daylight at apparatus bay
The transparent apparatus bay engages the street and promotes the perception of public safety.
Fire Station 6 Fire Station 6 is a neighborhood station located at the intersection of two significant arterial streets in Seattle’s Central District neighborhood. Re-located from a beloved, but out-of-date, historic building three blocks to the west, the new station design provides up-to-date facilities, improves firefighter response time, and creates safer vehicle circulation while establishing a strong civic presence at a busy - and until now overlooked - intersection. The apparatus bay and its support spaces are the driver of the site strategy. The highly transparent double height volume of the apparatus bay is placed near the public corner of the site. This meets the transparency requirements of the NC240 zoning, puts the fire trucks on display and advertises its presence to the surrounding community. The corner location of the apparatus bay better accommodates the many dimensional constraints governing the building’s operation, improves sightlines to the intersection during calls, and allows drive-through access - thus eliminating the safety concerns of a back-in station. Two masonry-clad volumes at either side of the apparatus bay house support and living spaces. A central, sky-lit scissor stair organizes the two-story living spaces, providing efficient access to the apparatus bay from sleeping quarters and connecting the Station Office and Beanery (kitchen/dining area)—an important social component for the firefighters— while also separating active spaces from quieter areas.
The Station Office’s location at street level adjacent to the apparatus bay offers visibility in multiple directions and creates a readily identifiable front door for the office, which is staffed 24/7. A small plaza at the northeast corner of the site affords space for pedestrians to safely observe the inner workings of the apparatus bay, which has proved to be especially popular for the local preschool population. The stained glass art above the apparatus bay doors by Seattle artist Steve Gardner references Art-Deco symbols from the original station. Sustainability strategies include a ground source heat pump system, a substantial vegetated roof, stormwater reclamation system for irrigation, permeable paving, and energy efficient HVAC and envelope detailing. The high performance facility incorporates multiple forms of advanced communications technologies and has redundant mechanical and electrical systems components to achieve essential facility standards. Fire Station 6 is a LEED Gold building.
Au to S er vice
Si n g l e Fam ily - Zoned L-1
Child c are
Ever yb o dy Gym
4 Un it Apt
The S eattle M ediu m
Fo o d M ar t
S eat t l e G i rl s S cho o l Chu rc h o f G o d Evang elic al Center
Neighborhood Context: The fire station’s transparency engages pedestrian activity at the intersection. Holding the corner, integrating artwork , and providing “eyes on the street” are design strategies that enhance the vibrant community.
Connectivity: The glazed apparatus bay and the station office windows engage the neighborhood.
SOUTH JACKSON STREET
Bunk rooms located away from traffic noise Scissor stair allows for quick access to the apparatus bay from all points on the second story Physical Training Room, Beanery, and Station Office are located with views to the exterior for maximum “eyes on the street” Drive through site design allows for optimal operational efficiency
Circulation Diagram + Site Plan: Purposeful and expressive circulation.
STAIR 2
Central scissor stair provides direct connections between stories. Simple materials are expressed with care throughout the station.
SOUTH JACKSON STREET
6
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR WAY
Plaza
Ladder/Engine Storage
R ec ycle
R e ar Apro n
Apparatus B ay
6 Major Disaster Supply
Station O f f ice
Main Entry
O ffi cer Pa rk i n g
Below Grade Generator
B unker G ear O f f ice r Q u a r te r s STAIR 2
Ground Floor Plan: prioritize active uses towards the corner.
0
4
8
16
Open to Apparatus Bay Below
BBQ Deck
B eaner y
Day Ro om
Phys ic a l Tra ining
Locker Alcoves
Bu nk Ro oms
Upper Floor Plan: daily life of a firefighter.
0
4
8
16
Physical training room overlooks apparatus bay and main entry.
Beanery [kitchen] opens to south-facing deck.
quiet
B u n ks
active
Lo c ker s
Day R o o m Apparat u s B ay
O ffi ce rs’ Q u a r te r s
Apparatus Supp o r t
Ap p a ratu s Su p p or t Ja cks on Stre e t
Alley
Zoning Diagram Building Section: North/South
0
4
8
16
The apparatus [trucks] have broad sightlines when leaving the station.
D ayl i t Ci rc u l ati o n Co re
Daylighting with Overhangs
Energy-Efficient Envelope
Rainwater Collection
B eaner y P hys i c al Trai n i n g
Operable Windows for Passive Ventilation
BBQ De ck
St at i on O f f i ce
Permeable Paving at Parking R ai nwater Ci ster n
Re a r Ap ron
M LK J r. Way Ground Source Heat Pump
Sustainability Diagram Building Section: East/West
0
4
8
16
Transparency and daylight at apparatus bay
The transparent apparatus bay engages the street and promotes the perception of public safety.
